My hike sponsored by Goodwill.

As I began collecting gear for this trip, I saw my bank account drop. Dramatically. 

I am happy to put money into sleeping bags, stoves, or packs. They are a great investment. I can use them for trips after this. Clothes are a completely different story. I will probably not wear these after, when they smell to high heaven. So when I walked through REI and saw prices of $60-$90 a little tear formed in my eye, and my stubbornness kicked in.

I would thrift for all the clothes I could find.

Luckily, I have been training for this moment for years. My sisters taught me the tricks to thrifting at a young age, and I have honed those skills for years. I used REI's free internet to search for a thrift store. I struck gold.

Right around the block was a gem made for me. The goodwill that was organized with an activewear section. Thank God. I found two REI short sleeve shirts, two long sleeve shirts, and one pair of base layer pants. I got them all for $20. 

For some reason this really solidified my belief in the trip. Everyone says hike your own hike, but this was one of the first times I felt I was.

I continue to thrift and recently found my desert shirt. I will keep my eyes open, but I also realize some things are worth the money. It is always the balance of wallet vs quality.

Until next time, 

Shelly